Southern and Waikato Police district investigators have seized approximately 130 grams of methamphetamine, worth $130,000, and an estimated $80,000 in cash.

Officers searched addresses in rural Otago and Hamilton yesterday.

They seized cannabis plants, dried cannabis head, and other items indicative of drug dealing.

A 48-year-old man was arrested and charged with conspiracy to supply methamphetamine.

He was due to appear in the Dunedin District court today.

Police are treating as suspicious a house fire at Goodwood, on State Highway One between Palmerston and Waikouaiti, early on Friday morning.

The house was badly damaged by the fire and police were called in by Fire and Emergency New Zealand investigators.

Six fire crews attended the blaze.

Hospitality New Zealand says changes to visas relating to skilled migrant workers will negatively impact the hospitality industry.

Hospitality New Zealand policy manager Dylan Firth says employers, in particular, will cop the impact by a number of ways including the loss of migrant skills, retraining staff, and facing pressures to raise wages.

A Queenstown driver was recently stopped after being caught speeding at 179km per hour in a 100km per hour zone.

The man will appear in the Queenstown District Court on Monday July 24th charged with driving at a dangerous speed.

Police say there there were more than 34 reported crashes across Southland and Otago over the weekend due to icy conditions.

Cold temperatures are expected again tonight, and Police are asking motorists to be mindful on the roads and not drive unless it is absolutely necessary.

A stoush between a Waihemo landowner and Downer has caused the Waitaki District Council to hold back routine gravelling on rural roads in the area and rethink its gravel supply strategy.

A quarry on private land, which was managed by Downer, had been used by the council's roading maintenance contractor, SouthRoads.

But Council roading manager Michael Voss says because of the dispute, the owner had locked the contractor out of the quarry until the matter was resolved.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority is looking into the police investigation into National MP Todd Barclay.

Police last week re-opened their investigation into allegations the Clutha-Southland MP secretly recorded staff in his Gore electorate office.

The original investigation was dropped after 10 months when officers cited a lack of evidence for a successful prosecution.

IPCA spokeswoman Sarah Goodall says they received a complaint on June 21 regarding police handling of the matter.

The New Zealand Transport Agency says very cold temperatures are forecast overnight in Southland, Otago, parts of Canterbury.

Senior Network Manager of NZTA John Jarvis says Otago and Southland people should be ready for icy roads overnight and Thursday morning.

He says it's looking at being the coldest night of the year to date with widespread very cold temperatures across the lower South Island.

The NZTA is taking the extra step of advising drivers to start work later in the day if possible.

Mt Cook dropped to -9 last night, and temperatures as low as -7 degrees are forecast tonight for a number of inland areas.